RALPHS COULD FACE FINANCIAL PENALTIES

COMPTON, Calif. -- Ralphs Grocery Co. here could face stiff financial penalties if it is found guilty of violating federal labor, tax or Social Security laws during the strike-lockout earlier this year.The potential violations stem from allegations the chain hired locked-out employees under false names or Social Security numbers during the 141-day labor dispute here that lasted from mid-October through

COMPTON, Calif. -- Ralphs Grocery Co. here could face stiff financial penalties if it is found guilty of violating federal labor, tax or Social Security laws during the strike-lockout earlier this year.

The potential violations stem from allegations the chain hired locked-out employees under false names or Social Security numbers during the 141-day labor dispute here that lasted from mid-October through early March. SN reported last week that the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central